Tile greenhouse-bench.



B. P. WISE. TILE GREENHOUSE BENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1908.

923,921. Patented June 8, 1909.

lilNllEl) STATES BYRON P. WISE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TILE GREENHOUSE-BENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. June 8, 1909.

Application filed. July 11, 1908. Serial No. 443,084.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYRON P. VVIsn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tile Greenhouse-Benches,of which the following is a specification, reference being had thereinto the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to benches or stands, and particularly toa tilegreenhouse bench.

The object of the invention is the construction of a peculiar bench,preferably, formed of tile, and comprising a minimum number of parts,which are comparatively inexpensive to construct and efficient anddurable in use.

Another object of the invention is the con struction of a tilegreenhouse bench, which c can be quickly assembled and disassembled andthe parts of which bench are not liable to decay or corrode, therebyincreasing the life of the bench, and, consequently, minimizing the costof maintaining the bench in a highly eflicient condition.

A further object of the invention is the construction of a knock-clownbench, comprising peculiarly-constructed posts or standards carryingcross-beams, and upon which cross-beams, is positioned apeculiarlyconstructed body for containing soil, potted plants, or otherarticles.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel constructions, con'ibinations, and arrangements of parts, as willbe hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l is a fragmentary, perspective view of a benchor stand constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 isan enlarged view of one of the posts or standards. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of a floor-tile body, prior to separating the sectionsthereof for forming floor-tiles Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged,sectional View of the fio0r-tile body. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, inside elevation, of one of the side and end brackets. Fig. 6 is anenlarged,,perspective view of one of the corner-clamps. Fig. 7 is afragmentary view of the bench, showing particularly the application ofanother embodiment of the side and end brackets. Fig. 8 is a perspectiveview of the bracket shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l designates the base of thesupporting posts or standards, and 2 is the top; the base and top beingintegrally connected by means of sides 3, which sides are connectedintermediate their ends by a horizontal web 4. Each side diverges fromits upper end toward the lower end, and, consequently, the base 1 isconsiderably wider than top 2, whereby the post or. standard coversconsiderable area of ground or floor-space, making a very substantialand solid support for the cross-beam tiles 5. The forming of the postsor standards 1 hollow, reduces the expense of constructing the same, andowing to the forming of the horizontal web 4, the sides 3 are materiallyreinforced; also a pocket or support is formed in the post or standardfor receiving tools or potted plants, or other articles, to be storedaway, thereby utilizing the entire peculiarly-constructed post.Consequently, it will be seen that I have produced posts, each of whichis provided with a comparatively wide or broad base or bottom, and eachpost decreasing or converging toward its upper fiat end or top 2.

Each cross-beam tile 5 is, preferably, rectangular in shape, and isformed hollow for increasing the lightness of the bench, and alsominimizing the cost of construction of the same. The cross, hollow tiles5 are provided with flat, upper and lower faces; the lower faces restingsnug against the upper, fiat, horizontal faces 2 of the posts orstandards, whereas the upper faces of the crosstiles produce aneflicientsupport, upon which rest the webs or flanges of the floor-tiles6. The floor-tiles are, preferably, formed by constructing a hollow,elongated body, as shown in Fig. 8, and this body is provided withlongitudinally-extending partitions,

each partition being scored longitudinally,

as at 7, Fig. l, at opposite points, so that the body can be quickly andcomparatively easily split or broken into two parts for producingfioortiles 6. Each floor-tile is provided with an upper, flat,horizontal body and with a plurality of vertical, depending webs orflanges 8, constituting reinforcing ribs .upon the under face of thebody of each floor-tile.

The reinforcing, parallel webs or flanges 8 extend the entire length ofeach floor-tile and contiguous to their ends, rest upon the flat, upperfaces of the cross-beam tiles 5; the ends of the webs or flanges 8overlap each cross-beam 5, and are normally I 12 extends across, and ispositioned under positioned at their ends near the center of each beam,whereby said tiles 6 are secured against any accidental displacement offof the cross-tiles 5. The body of the tile is cut on line 7 the tile orbody being, preferably, cut entirely off any desired length. The lengthof the floor-tiles depends entirely upon the size of the bench or standto be constructed. The webs or flanges 8 on the floortiles permit thefree circulation of air around the cross-beam tiles 5, and also allowthe placing of steam pipes above the hollow cross-beam tiles 5 anddirectly beneath the body of the floor-tiles upon which dirt or soil orpotted plants may be placed, thereby in extreme cold climates the plantscan be better heated or kept from freezing.

Side and end pieces 9 and 10 are employed in constructing my stand orbench, and these pieces are each of an ordinary flat, straightstructure, preferably formed of tile, but the contiguous or engagingends of the side and end pieces are secured together upon thefloor-tiles by a peculiarly-construct-- ed corner-clamp. It will beobvious that, preferably, four clamps are employed in constructing anordinary square or oblong bench.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, my angle corner-clamp comprises twoangularly-disposed portions 10, each of which is provided with an upper,flat portion and with sides 11; the sides 11 being slightly inwardlybowed from the upper to the lower edge, producing a spring clamp, which,owing to the sides being turned outwardly at the lower edges, may bequickly placed over the sides of the side and end-pieces 9 and 10respectively, and the clamp held upon these side or end pieces, by meansof the clamping action of said corner-clamp or brace or bracket; theclamping action of the cornerbrace or bracket prevents accidentaldisplacement, and also holds the same upon the side and end pieces, andsecurely fastens said pieces together at the corners of the bench. Oneother advantage of the placing of the spring-clamps upon the corners isthat, under normal conditions, no soil engages the same, which increasesthe life of the corner-clamps or brackets, as they will not corrode ordecay, as quickly as if the soil engaged or covered said clamps orbrackets. Intermediate the ends of the side and end pieces 9 and 10respectively, the same are braced or partly held upon the floor-tiles,by means of vertical brackets, each of which comprises a horizontalportion 12, integral at one end with a vertical portion 13; thehorizontal portion 12 terminating at its opposite end in a vertical,auxiliary extension 14. The auxiliary extension 14: is adapted tonormally engage one side of a web or flange 8, for the horizontalportion two of the webs or flanges S, Fig. l. l

The vertical portion 13 rests parallel with the outer flange of afloor-tile, and the upper,

per edge of the side or end piece and the inner, vertical portion 16rests against the inner face of the side or end piece (Fig. 1).Therefore, the portions 15 and 1t and porhooking around the web and theother over the side or end piece for securing the bracket or bracketsupon the cooperating parts of the bench and also secures the cooperatingparts together.

It is to be noted thatthe vertical brackets or braces (Fig. are placedoutside of the floor-tiles and the side and end pieces, and,consequently, are not in contact with the soil,

whereby the life of the brackets is increased, owing to their not beingsubject to corrosion or decay.

in Figs. 7 and S, I have shown another embodiment of the verticalbrackets, in which the horizontal portion 17 of the bracket rests flatupon a floor-tile, and the vertical, apertnred portion 18 is securedagainst the inner ends of a side and an endpiece, by means of rivets at15.), or any other suitable fastening means. The inner end of thehorizontal portion 117 is provided, with a tra-nsversely-disposed Ushaped clip 20. which normally fits over the end of a floortile; theupper part of the U-shapcd portion engages the upper face of thefloor-tile and the lower part, the inner or lower face. The bracketsshown in Figs. 7 and 8 perform the same function as the bracket; shownin Figs. 1 and 5, to wit: bracing and supporting and holding the sidesand end pieces upon the floor-tiles.

lVhile I do not limit myself specifically to the placing of thevertical, intermediate brackets directly above the cross-beam tiles 5,still I, preferably, arrange the same at these points for producing avery durable bench or stand for it is at these points that thefloor-tiles are cut and the edges of two contiguous tiles are broughttogether, and. therefore, it is easy to assemble the brackets in theseplaces as will be obvious upon considering the foregoing description andthe accompanying drawing. From the foregoing description, it will benoted that l. have provided a tile greenhouse bench, of a type known tothe trade as a knock-down bench or stand, that is to say. it is a benchwhich is built up of peculiarlyconstructed parts or members susceptibleof being quickly assembled or disassembled. when it is desired toassemble the bench in any spot, or disassemble the same for transportation, without injuring or marring the parts, constituting thebench. which I have, preferably, illustrated and described as thehorizontal portion 15 extends across the uption 14, constituting a pairof hooks, one

lee

.lllii llld peculiarly -constructed posts or standards, the hollow,supporting cross'tiles, and the floor-tiles, etc.

From the foregoing description, it will be noted that pipes may run onsupports placed in the openings of the posts or standards to insureproper heating of the bench, or for drainage purposes. The tops 2 of thesupporting posts or standards are, preferably, the same width or lengthas the width of the lower or base pieces of the hollow, transverse orcross-tiles 5.

It is to be noted that the hollow posts or standards are arranged,preferably, in rows transversely of the bench for accommodating thealined, hollow cross-beam tiles 5. In the drawing, I have, preferably,shown in Fig. 1, two cross-beams 5, and indicated three posts orstandards in each transverse row.

What I claim is:

1. A tile greenhouse bench, comprising rows of hollow posts, a pluralityof hollow cross-beam tiles arranged in alinement and carried by theposts in each row, and floortiles resting upon the hollow cross-beamtiles, each floor-tile provided with webs or flanges extendingtransversely of the crossbeain tiles.

2. A tile greenhouse bench, comprising hollow posts, arranged inalinement, hollow tiles resting upon the upper ends of the posts, andfloor-tiles resting upon the top of the hollow tiles.

3. A greenhouse bench, comprising posts, each post having a hollow bodyand a narrow flat top and a comparatively wide base, transverse tilesresting upon the tops of said posts, andfioor-tiles resting upon thetops of the transverse tiles and positioned transversely of the same.

4. In a tile greenhouse bench, the combination with a support, of afloor-tile carried by said support, said floor-tile comprising a bodyprovided with longitudinally-extending vertical flanges or webs upon itsunder face, and said webs serving as a support for the body and spacingthe same from the support.

5. A greenhouse bench, comprising posts, each post provided with sides,a base, and a top, each side diverging from its upper end to its lowerend, and a horizontal web integral with the sides intermediate theirends, a floor-tile, and means supporting said floor-tile upon saidposts.

(5. A greenhouse bench, comprising a support, floor-tiles carried bysaid support, side and end pieces in engagement with said floor tiles,brackets assembled with said floor-tiles and said side and end pieces,each bracket provided with a pair of angularlydisposed portions, eachangularly-disposed portion provided with a hook, the hook of one portionengaging the edge of a side &

piece and the hook of the other portion engaging a portion of afloor-tile, and means fastening the ends of the side and end-piecestogether.

7. A greenhouse bench, comprising a support, floor-tiles carried by saidsupport, side and end pieces carried by said floor-tiles, bracketsfastening said side and end-pieces and floor-tiles together, eachbracket comprising a vertical and a horizontal portion, the verticalportion provided with a horizontal portion extending across the upperedge of the side or end piece, the firstmentioned, horizontal portionprovided with an extension engaging an inner face of the sid or endpiece, said first-mentioned, horizontal portion provided with a verticalextension at its inner end, and the last-mentioned vertical extensionengaging a portion of the floor-tile.

8. A greenhouse bench, comprising a support, floor-tiles carried by saidsupport, side and end pieces carried by said floor-tiles, the side andend pieces being positioned together at their ends, and corner-clampspositioned over the contiguous ends of said side and end pieces andsecuring the same together.

9. In a greenhouse bench, the combination with a support, a floorcarried by said support, of side and end pieces positioned upon saidfloor, the side and end pieces positioned near together at their ends,and a cornerclamp positioned over the two contiguous ends of each sideand end piece, said cornerclamps comprising a pair of angularly-disposed portions, and each angularly-disposed portion comprisingspring-clamping sides adapted to grip the sides of a side or end piece.

10. A greenhouse bench, comprising a support, fioor-tiles carried bysaid support, side and end pieces carried by said floortiles, the sideand end pieces positioned together at their ends, corner clampspositioned over the upper edges of the side and end. pieces at theirends, each corner-clamp comprising a horizontal upper portion and theupper portion provided with integral, vertical sides, each side beingbowed inwardly from its upper end to its lower end and said sidesconstituting a spring-clamp for gripping opposite sides of the side andend portion of the bench.

11. A greenhouse bench, comprising hollow posts, hollow cross-tilescarried by said posts, webbed floor-tiles extending across thecross-tiles, side and end-pieces carried by said floor tiles, bracketspositioned against the floor-tiles and the side and end pieces andintermediate the ends of said side and end-pieces, and anglespring-clamps positioned over the ends of the side and endpieces at thecorners of the bench and securing the side and end-pieces together.

12. A greenhouse bench, comprising posts, cross-tiles carried by saidposts, floor-tiles carried by said cross-tiles, side and end piecescarried by said floor-tiles, and angle clamps provided with clamp-sidespositioned over the ends of the side and end pieces at the corners ofthe bench and holding the side and end pieces upon the floor-tiles.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a tile greenhouse bench, comprisinghollow, webbed posts, horizontal, hollow, internie diate or cross-beamtiles positioned upon the posts, and webbed floor-tiles supported by andextending partly across and resting only upon the upper faces of thehollow cross-beam tiles.

14-. As a new article of manufacture, tile greenhouse bench, comprising,hollow, vertical posts, hollow horizontal cross-tiles rest ing upon theposts, and floor-tiles resting upon the upper faces of the hollowcrosstiles.

15. In a greenhouse bench, the combination with a support, floor-tilescarried by said support, side and end pieces in engage ment with saidfloor-tiles, of brackets assenibled with said floor-tiles and said sideand end pieces, each bracket comprising a vertical and a horizontalportion, said portions integrally connected, said horizontal portionprovided with a hook adapted to lie tia; against a portion of afloor-tile, and fastening means securing the vertical portion to a sideor end-piece.

16. In a greenhouse bench, the combination with a support, a floorcarried by said support, 'de and end pieces engaging said floor, saidside and end pieces being positioned together at their ends, of adetachable, horiz-iontal, angle corner-clamp securing two contiguousends of the side and end pieces together, said corner-clamp coveringportions of and resting upon the upper edges of a side piece and an endpiece at their contiguous ends.

In testiinoiij whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

BYRON P. \VISE.

\Vitnesses GRANT LEE, R. H. BONNALLI.

